Windows 10 brings tons of improvements over its predecessors in terms of performance, functionality, and security, but the one area where people still miss Windows 7 is aesthetics. The Start Menu, especially, remains a sore point, with many old-timers still fondly remembering how the Windows 7 Start Menu looked less schizophrenic than the new version. So today, we will show you how you can bring back the Windows 7 Start Menu to Windows 10. To do that, we’ve rounded up 4 apps to customize the look and feel of your Windows 10 PC.

To bring back the Windows 7 Start Menu to Windows 10, we neither have to use any command-line tools, nor muck around in the Windows registry. Instead, we will use third-party software, including free, freemium and paid apps, to bring a bit of nostalgia to your Windows 10 PC. If that sounds interesting, read on to know about the best apps to customize your Windows 10 device and bring back the Windows 7 Start Menu.

  • Method 1: Open Shell (Free)
  • Method 2: StartIsBack (Free Trial)
  • Method 3: Start Menu X (Freemium)
  • Method 4: Stardock Start10 (Free Trial)
  • Bonus: Unpin Live Tiles in Windows 10 Start Menu

Method 1: Open Shell (Free)

One of the best ways to bring back the look and feel of the classic Windows Start Menu was by using a free application called Classic Shell. While its development stopped in 2017, volunteers are still maintaining the program on GitHub under the name Open Shell. As of February 10, the latest stable build is 4.4.160 (free), while the latest nightly build is 4.4.163 (free). Download either one to get started. In this article, we will be using the stable build for demo purposes.

  • The default setting is for the Windows 7-style Start Menu, but you can also opt for Classic (Windows XP-style) and Classic with two rows. As for skins, the default is Metro (left), but you can also opt for Aero (right) and several more.

There are a whole bunch of settings you can change to personalize the Start Menu aesthetics and functionality to your heart’s content. The software is fully free, which means you get all the features without any restrictions.

If you’re ready to pay for your nostalgia, a little-known Windows 10 app called StartIsBack is an even better option to get back your classic Windows 7 Start Menu. It comes with a free 30-day trial, but costs $3.99 for a full license. It’s a great, inexpensive way to get back your Windows 7 Start Menu in Windows 10, and the one that I personally used in my Windows 8/8.1 installations back in the day.

As it’s name suggests, StartIsBack truly brings back the Windows 7 Start Menu to Windows 10. I can personally vouch for the software, having used it on multiple Windows 8/8.1 and Windows 10 PCs. It is extremely lightweight, comes with no advertisements and has zero bloat. I highly recommend this app to get back the Windows 7 Start Menu in Windows 10.

Another cool app you can use to bring back the Windows 7-style Start Menu to Windows 10 is Start Menu X. It comes with a free version that offers most of the features of the ‘Pro’ version, but with a couple of exceptions that we’ll discuss later. You can also opt for a 30-day free trial of the Pro version with all the bells and whistles.

  • Download and install StartMenu X (freemium). Once installed, click on the Start Button and you will see an expanded Start menu, like in the screenshot below.

Method 4: Stardock Start10 (Free Trial)

Another popular program to get back the Windows 7 Start menu in Windows 10 is Start10 by Stardock. The developer is well-known for making Windows customization programs and, has been in the business for the better part of two decades. The program comes with a free 30-day trial, but the full version will cost you $4.99. Note that you will need a valid email address to complete the setup process.

Another way to reduce the clutter on your Windows 10 Start Menu is by unpinning all the massive tiles. You can unpin all Start Menu tiles, irrespective of whether they are ‘Live’ or not. That way, you will have a more streamlined look akin to Windows 7.

  • To disable Live Tiles on the Windows 10 Start Menu, right-click on any such tile and select ‘Unpin from Start’. Unfortunately, there is currently no option to unpin them all at once, so you need to unpin them one at a time.

The Windows 10 Start Menu is essentially a cleaner version of the Windows 8 Start Menu, and retains the same tile-based UI that created a massive controversy back in the day. It might make some sense in touchscreen devices, but is a waste of space on regular laptops and desktops. The multi-color tiles are also an aesthetic nightmare and are highly annoying when using a mouse and keyboard. So if you liked the older, streamlined aesthetics of the Windows 7 Start Menu as much as I did, you now know how to get it back.